CABLE NEWS. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.—COPYRIGHT.]

Evening Post, Volume LIX, Issue 112, 12 May 1900, Page 5

CABLE NEWS. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.—COPYRIGHT.]

THE FEDERAL DELEGATION. * AT LOGGERHEADS WITH THE QUEENSLAND GOVEPvNOR. LORD LAMINGTON SUPPORTS HIS MINISTERS. [mESS ASSOCIATION.] LONDON, 11th May. •The Hon. E. Barton, the New South Wales member o>f the Federal delegation, has pub'uely and indignantly repelled as ungenerous an insinuation made by Lord Lamington (Governor of Queensland) that tho members of the delegation were trading on Great Biilain's gratitude in order to obtain concessions with regaid to the Commonwealth. Bill. The Hon. A. Deakin (Victoria) characterises Lord Lamington's utterances as most ungenerous and unconstitutional. The Hon. J. R. Dickson (Queensland) has defended Lord Lamington, who, he says, spake, doubtless, on the advice of the Ministry. BRISBANE, This Day. The .remarks of Lord Lamington which have given so much umbrage to 'the Federal delegates, were made during a speech on Tuesday night at the Presbyterian Assembly. His Lordship now explains that there has been some misunderstanding. The meaning he wished to convey was that it would be no special gain to Great Britain to retain the right of appeal to the Privy Council. That being so, he thought it was a pity that the great display of colonial loyalty; which had so struck the world, should be mad© use of to obtain an. advantage more illusory than real. His remarks, says Lord Lamington, were not directed to the Federal delegates, but to a section of the London press, which said, "Let Australia have what she wants because she is so loyal." The local press gives Lord Lamington's words as follows: — ''He would iiak if it was at all Jike'y, when there had been such a display of loyalty and enthusiasm, whether the ' Imperial Government would seek to track; upon 'that feeling so as to obtain advantages which were really illusive." The Premier (Hon. R. Phivp) states that Lord Lamington did hot consult the Ministry on the opinions ho would express in his speech-malting. It simply happened in this case that the Governor held the same views as the Ministry. ANSWER TO WESTRALIA'S SEPARATISTS. SPEECH BY A LIBERAL STATESMAN. (Received May 12, 11.55 a.m.) LONDON, 11th May. The Secretary of State for the Colonies has informed Mr. Griffiths, tho representative of the Westralian Goldfields' Separation League that Sir John Forrest's decision to submit the Commonwealth Bill to a referendum has removed the chief grievance of the goldfields' petitioners. The Right Hon. H. Asquith, one of the leaders of the Liberal Party, speaking at Colchester, said it would be best to concede everything that Australia unitedly demanded, unless it was manifestly inconsistent with the maintenance of the full integrity of Imperial unity.